“I’ve heard from veterans across Wisconsin who’ve encountered confusing billing practices, infuriating scheduling practices and poor customer service when they’ve tried to go through the VA Choice Program,” said Senator Baldwin. “Our veterans deserve better. When they want care in their own communities, they should be able to expect the high quality service they have earned and deserve. When signed into law, this bipartisan reform will help make that a reality.”

The Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act, authored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, would make the VA the primary payer under the Choice Program, reducing veterans’ out-of-pocket expenses and aligning the Choice Program with the VA’s other community care programs.

The bipartisan Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act would accomplish this by:

Improving the sharing of medical records between the VA and community providers in Choice to better coordinate care for veterans and connect them to care in a timelier manner.

Reducing confusion and out-of-pocket costs for veterans.

Allowing community providers to be reimbursed in a more rapidly – which would reduce providers’ frustrations and ultimately bring them back into Choice, further increasing access to care for more veterans.